View source for 1840-08-Western Messenger-Copy of a Letter

==Copy of a Letter==
''Western Messenger'', v8 n4, August 1840, p. 190.

''Copy of a letter written by Mr. John  Haven of Holliston, Middlesex co. Massachusetts, to his daughter Eliza beth Haven of Quincy, Adams co.  Illinois.''
 
Your brother Jesse passed through  Monson, where he saw Mrs. Davidson  and her daughter, Mrs. McKinestry, and  also Dr. Ely, and spent several hours with them, during which time he asked  them the following questions. viz: 

Did you, Mrs. Davidson, write a let ter to John Storrs, giving an account of  the origin of the Book of Mormon?  Ans: I did not. Did you sign your name  to it? Ans: I did not, neither did I ever  see the letter until I saw it in the [[Boston  Recorder]]: the letter was never brought  to me to sign. Ques. What agency  had you in having this letter sent to Mr.  Storrs? Ans: D. R. Austin came to my  house and asked me some questions, took  some minutes on paper, and from these  minutes wrote that letter. Ques. Is  what is written in the letter true? Ans: In the main it is. Ques. Have you  read the Book of Mormon? Ans: I  have read some in it. Ques. Does Mr.  Spaulding's manuscript, and the Book of  Mormon agree? Ans: I think some  few of the names are alike. Ques. Does  the manuscript describe an idolatrous or  a religious people? Ans: An idolatrous  people. Ques. Where is the manuscript?  Ans: Dr. P. Hurlburt came here and  took it, said he would get it printed, and  let me have one half the profits. Ques.  Has Dr. P. Hurlburt got the manuscript  printed? Ans: I received a letter stating it did not read as they expected, and  they should not print it. Ques. How  large is Mr. Spaulding's manuscript?  Ans: About one third as large as the  Book of Mormon. To Mrs. McKinestry—how old were you when your father  wrote the manuscript? Ans: About five  years of age. Ques. Did you ever read  the manuscript? Ans: When I was  about twelve years old, I used to read it  for diversion. Ques. Did the manuscript  describe an idolatrous or religious peo ple. Ans: An idolatrous people. Ques.  Do the manuscript and the Book of  Mormon agree? Ans: I think some of  the names agree. Ques. Are you certain that some of the names agree? Ans: I am not. Ques. Have you ever read  any in the Book of Mormon? Ans: I  have not. Ques. Was your name attached to that letter which was sent to  Mr. John Storrs by your order? Ans: No. I never meant that my name should  be there. 

You see by the above questions and  answers, that Mr. Austin, in his great  zeal to destroy the "Latter Day Saints,"  has asked Mrs. Davidson a few questions,  then wrote a letter to Mr. Slorrs in his  own language. I do not say that the  above questions and answers, were given  in the form that I have written them; but  these questions were asked, and these  answers given. Mrs. Davidson is about  seventy years of age, and somewhat  broke. This may certify that I am personally acquainted with Mr. Haven, his  son and daughter, and I am satisfied they  are persons of truth. I have also read Mr. Haven's letter to his daughter, which  has induced me to copy it for publication, and I further say, the above is a  correct copy of Mr. Haven's letter. 

::::::::::A. BADLAM. 

[[Category: Western Messenger]]
[[Category: Holliston MA]]
[[Category: Boston MA]]
[[Category: Spaulding Theory]]